Mexico fired the most successful coach in its national team history Nov. 25. Mexican soccer federation (FMF) president Juan Jose Leano told the press its national team council had “unanimously” agreed on Bora Milutinovic’s dismissal. Milutinovic, who had coached the United States from 1991 through the 1994 World Cup, had enjoyed few extended periods of security since retaking the Mexican helm late in 1995. But calls for his ouster from fans, the press, TV Azteca and rival coaches peaked after his team failed to beat the U.S. in Mexico City despite playing with a man advantage for 58 minutes Nov. 2. Tying both Costa Rica and Jamaica afterward sealed his fate. Yet Milutinovic had won four titles for Mexico in the past two years. In early 1996, he guided Mexico to the Gold Cup title, beating a young Brazilian team in the final. Later that year, and again in 1997, Mexico lifted U.S. Cup. And despite finishing with four ties, Mexico took first in the CONCACAF region’s World Cup qualifying competition. Last summer, Milutinovic guided Mexico to a third-place finish in the Copa America, where its only two losses were a thrilling match (3-2) with Brazil and a controversial semifinal defeat (3-1) to host Bolivia. Milutinovic was born in Yugoslavia and finished his playing career in Mexico, where he started coaching his final club, UNAM. In 1986, he reached hero status by taking Mexico to the quarterfinals of the World Cup it hosted, losing to West Germany on penalty kicks. With only three months of preparation, he took Costa Rica to Italia ’90, where it beat Scotland and Sweden to reach the second round. That earned him the “miracle worker” moniker and the job with the U.S., which under him reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 1930. In April of 1995, U.S. Soccer dismissed Milutinovic, stating that he wasn’t willing to expand his duties to include overseeing coaching schools and player development. With Mexico, Milutinovic was poised to become only the second man, after West Germany’s Helmut Schoen, to coach in four straight World Cups (1966-78). Japan would be a likely destination for Milutinovic were he to find another job for France ’98. The Mexican federation said it would announce a replacement within 72 hours of his firing. Candidates included Argentines Cesar Menotti and Jorge Valdano, Guadalajara’s Brazilian-born coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferreti and Atlante coach Miguel Mejia Baron, Mexico’s 1994 World Cup coach. The latter were both Milutinovic protTgTs at UNAM. By SA Senior Editor Mike Woitalla